There’s nothing worse than waking up, being one hundred percent ready to embrace the day, only to realize that, all of a sudden, that’s not going to be entirely possible because your sink isn’t properly draining.
Or you notice that the water in your shower is backing up. Both of these things can be extremely stressful, and something that sadly most people have dealt with at some point in their lives. Clogged drains are no joke, and the moment you realize you are dealing with them, you need to address this problem as soon as you can; otherwise, you can expect more serious issues.
Now, there are a plethora of reasons why your drains are clogged and below the most common ones are going to be mentioned so you can become more alert as far as this is concerned.
The Hair Has Piled Up
This one probably looks all too familiar, right? This is certainly one of the most common t-drain clog issues, especially if you live in a household that’s full of people with longer, lush hair. Hair buildup usually leads to clogged drains, particularly in showers and bathroom sinks.
As time goes by, strands of hair mix with soap scum and other things, resulting in clumps that won’t allow water to pass normally. Now, the question is, why is hair such a massive issue? Well, that’s because it’s not capable of easily breaking down in water.
The more hair piles up, the bigger the problem becomes because it starts acting like a net, pulling other debris and creating a huge clog. Luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to prevent this from happening.
For starters, you should clean drain openings from time to time, to ensure there are no any hair strands in them. Also, you can utilize a hair catcher while taking a shower.
Soap Can Cause A Huge Mess, Too!
If you notice that you are having issues with your drain way too often, then it most likely means that the soap is causing it. At first glance, you may think that this isn’t anything that should be too concerning, but it’s far more serious than it seemingly looks.
Keep in mind that over time, if it isn’t taken care of the right way, it can negatively impact the flow of water. Consequently, if you want to avoid this, then make sure to thoroughly eliminate any residue each time you are washing the dishes or taking a shower.
In these instances, white vinegar and/or baking soda can be of huge help because they are renowned for effectively getting rid of the soap scum that has piled up over time in the drainage pipes.
If you are diligent when it comes to this and you do not use soap in excess, then your drain will probably be clog-free for a very long time!
Oil, Fats & Grease
Having a garbage disposal is definitely a great thing, but it surely doesn’t mean that everything should be put in it (that you want to get rid of). Now, sometimes, when people are too exhausted and they aren’t in the mood to do the dishes, they tend to place anything that’s within their reach down the drain, which is anything but a good idea.
Bear in mind that certain things are practically forbidden and should never (read that out loud if you must) be put down a kitchen sink, and they include:
- The oil that you used for cooking
- Eggshells
- Huge fruit peels like a banana
- Massive chunks of food
- Fats from the food you ate (this particularly refers to the fats derived from meat)
Now, the question is, why is this such a bad idea? Just because you own a garbage disposal, it doesn’t instantly mean that you can throw anything that comes to mind. Although garbage disposal is a massive helper, you should still refrain from putting every food item in it.
Instead, when you’re dealing with the leftovers, it would be much better to use the garbage can. Lots of people think that cooking oils and fats won’t cause any problems with their drains, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
They, just like anything else, can really mess things up. How come? Well, that’s because upon entering the drain, they quickly harden, blocking the water flow. Therefore, if you want to prevent this from occurring, then just pour them into a melt-proof container and then thoroughly clean the container with a paper towel as soon as you notice that the oil and fat have hardened.
Moving On To Tree Roots
Tree roots are yearning for moisture, which is why they have the tendency to “run” to the underground pipes. Once tree roots take over a drain, they will quickly expand, resulting in a huge blockage, along with pipe damage.
This certainly sounds awful; however, there are certain preventive measures that you can implement that are very effective:
- Be sure not to plant trees close to the underground plumbing lines.
- If you conclude that the tree roots are frequently causing problems, then it would be recommended to hire someone who’s going to help you eliminate them fast. This refers to professionals who have already dealt with them.
- Schedule a thorough drain inspection to see whether there’s an issue with a root intrusion or not.
Foreign Objects Can Be A Major Pain In The Neck, As Well!
At times, people accidentally throw certain objects down the drain that were never supposed to end up there. Don’t worry, if this also happened to you, you’re definitely not the only one. In fact, this is actually quite common in homes that are full of young kids who tend do thrown down anything, everywhere, because they do not have the slightest idea how potentially dangerous it can be. To prevent this, be sur to keep your toiled lids closed when you’re not using them.
Clogged drains are generally pretty common, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll never have to face them again. But what you can do, is to implement some of the tips that were mentioned, to reduce the odds.
